Technical Author

OpenWorks Engineering Ltd; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks a Technical Author to join their Production Engineering team. You will create technical documents and training materials for significant defence projects, ensuring clarity and accuracy. Ideal candidates will have strong technical communication skills, attention to detail, and a degree in a STEM subject. This role celebrates creativity and curiosity while providing a vibrant team environment. A competitive remuneration package and generous benefits await the right individual.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration package

25 days’ holiday + public holidays

Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Salary sacrifice schemes

Paid team socials

Pension plan with employer-matched contributions

Empowered culture

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail is essential.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly.
• Skilled at writing clear and succinct instructions.
• Experience in revision control of technical documents.
• Experience in the defence and security sector is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Write and update internal technical documents such as build procedures.
• Create annotated images and develop illustrative diagrams.
• Lead the collection of information from the engineering design team.
• Analyse technical documents to extract essential data.
• Lead technical reviews and validation of documentation.

Skills

Excellent English grammar

Technical Communication

Instruction Writing

Project Management

Technical Documentation in MS Word

Visual Communication

Creativity & Curiosity

Document Control

Education

Degree in a STEM subject

Job description

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Author to join our Production Engineering team and make a real impact on operations. This role offers the chance to work in a meaningful industry and support some of the most important projects in the defence sector. You will produce build procedures, training materials, annotated images and diagrams, working closely with design engineers to capture key steps, highlight critical points and translate complex technical detail into clear practical instructions. You will also lead technical reviews and document validation, shaping how information flows through the business and directly supporting consistent, high‑quality production.

Who We Are

OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.

Our products provide ultra‑high performance, real‑time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.

We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.

The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

Join a high‑energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.

Here’s what our benefits have to offer:

• Competitive remuneration package, with performance‑related bonuses and clear progression opportunities.
• 25 days’ holiday + public holidays, with long‑service rewards and the option to buy up to 5 additional days.
• Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches every day, courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
• Private healthcare through Aviva, keeping you feeling your best.
• Life assurance for peace of mind.
• Salary sacrifice schemes – including EV car and Cycle to Work options for easy, sustainable travel.
• Paid team socials – from quiz nights and football to board games and more; we love to have fun together.
• Pension plan with up to 4% employer‑matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
• A culture that empowers – we enable change, encourage challenge, and celebrate personal growth.

What you’ll be doing:

• Technical Documentation: Write and update internal technical documents such as build procedures and training materials.
• Visual Documentation: Create annotated images from photos or CAD drawings and develop illustrative diagrams.
• Information Gathering: Lead the collection of information from the engineering design team to understand the intended build process, critical steps, and inspection points.
• Data Interpretation: Analyse technical documents and drawings to extract essential data for accurate and clear documentation.
• Technical Review & Validation: Lead technical reviews and validation of documentation to ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance.

What we’re looking for:

• Language & Accuracy: Excellent English grammar with strong attention to detail.
• Technical Communication: Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly.
• Instruction Writing: Skilled at writing clear and succinct instructions in English.
• Project Management: Capable of managing multiple projects concurrently.
• Technical Documentation: Detailed knowledge of creating technical documents in MS Word.
• Visual Communication: Ability to create graphics that complement documentation.
• Creativity & Curiosity: Naturally curious and creative in approach.
• Document Control: Experience in revision control of technical documents.
• Sector Experience: Experience working in the defence and security sector (desirable).
• Qualifications: A degree in a STEM subject (desirable).

More about us:

Vision: Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.

Mission: Be a world‑leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence.

Values:

• Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest
• Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done
• Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility
• We are one team: Look out for each other and the team
• Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on
• Have fun: We're doing amazing things with passionate people

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may close the role early due to high volumes of applications.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, as we are not able to provide visa sponsorship.